Students scoop two Bafta awards for computer game

A game which sees the player reduced to the size of a salt shaker has scooped Abertay University students two prestigious Bafta awards.

The Butterflyers team picked up the "Ones to Watch" prize at the Bafta Videogames Awards Ceremony in London.

And at the Bafta Scotland New Talent Awards in Glasgow it won "Best Game" with the same game "Shrunk".

Team leader Vykintas Kazdailis said: "To win one Bafta is very special, but to win two in one night is fantastic."

The Lithuanian added: "We're overwhelmed, but so happy. The competition was so tough and the other teams were just brilliant."

The same team, made up of five programmers and artists, won Abertay's Dare to be Digital competition last year.

Receiving recognition in front of the leading lights of the international computer games industry is a fantastic accolade for our students

Prof Bernard KingAbertay University

Mr Kazdailis was in London with team-mates Andrew Macdonald, Jacek Wernikowski, Stuart Kemp, and Michael Cummings to receive the "Ones to Watch" award, which had in fact been designed by Mr Macdonald.

Their friend Iain Smith attended the Glasgow event to receive the "Best Game" trophy on the team's behalf.

Two other Abertay teams had also been nominated for the "Ones to Watch" Award: Gentlemen of Fortune and PixelPirates. PixelPirates had also been nominated for the Bafta Scotland Best Game award.

Professor Bernard King, principal and vice-chancellor of Abertay University, said: "We are very pleased for The Butterflyers - winning both in Glasgow and London - but we are also proud of all our nominees.

"Dare to be Digital is judged by an independent panel of industry experts, and we were very proud when three Abertay teams were chosen as winners and nominees for the Bafta 'Ones to Watch' award.

"To be nominated for the Ones to Watch award and receive recognition in front of the leading lights of the international computer games industry is a fantastic accolade for our students."

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